Issue - meetings

          The Board received a presentation and report which provided an update of the progress of Halton Family Hubs.

          In 2019, the Government’s Manifesto pledged to champion Family Hubs across England.  In December 2020, the Minister for Children outlined plans to create a National Centre for Excellence for Hubs, funded by the Department for Education (DfE).  This included a Best Start for Life Review which was a programme to ensure the best support during the first 1001 days of a baby’s life and maximise lifelong emotional and physical wellbeing. 

          In April 2022, the DfE and DHSC announced that Halton would be one of the 75 Local Authorities who would become a pilot area for the Family Hubs and Best Start to Life Scheme.  Since December 2022, Halton had been working hard to develop this model. 

          The Board was advised that Family Hubs were designed to support children and families by bringing together all the support families may need from pregnancy through to young people turning 19, or 25 if they had a disability.  They brought together early help and intervention delivered by a range of partners and organisations and services that could be delivered in various ways from different venues i.e. children’s centres, libraries, health centres, GP practices and many more.

          The presentation outlined the journey so far in the development of the model, its achievements and challenges over the past 12 months and the next steps for the future.

          The Chair provided some positive feedback she had received about an event organised by the service.

          RESOLVED:  That the Board noted the presentation.